Bantamweight Luke Campbell became the first boxer to guarantee Britain a medal
last night after defeating Detelin Dalakliev after a dramatic final round
which booked him a place in the semi-finals. The final three minutes were
high drama and emotion for the Hull boxer. It was that close.

Campbell came from 8-9 behind after two rounds in a thrilling final three minutes to edge the contest 16-15. Bout 184 of the London 2012 boxing tournament; first guaranteed medal. Campbell was down 3-4 after the opening round, his timing off and his movement over-eager. The Bulgarian capitalized. Campbell found command of the centre of the ring in the second yet was still behind 8-9 as the bell rang.

The 24-year-old had been through two dress rehearsals for this contest, having defeated Dalakliev to claim a much-vaunted European title in 2008, and also knocked him out in the last eight of the world championships last year, where he won world silver. In the third, he gave his all.

“I’m delighted, but I’m always very critical of myself. I'm a perfectionist,” he said.

Campbell was watched by his parents, two brothers – his oldest of whom has done six tours of Afghanistan, the youngest is a deep sea trawler fisherman - and his sister. Plus 10,000 who roared his every move. “It is brilliant to know they are all watching me. I’ve wanted to make everyone proud of me,” he said.

“I’ve been representing Britain in a boxing vest since I was 16 years old, but I always hoped this tournament, a home Olympics, would drag something special out of me.”

Five British boxers are in action today - three women, two men – all guaranteed bronze medals if they overcome their respective quarter-final opponents.

World champion Savannah Marshall, middleweight, and world silver medallist Nicola Adams, at flyweight, begin their campaigns after a bye in the first round, while men’s superheavyweight Anthony Joshua takes on Beijing Games silver medallist Zhang Zhilei and Anthony Ogogo faces Stefan Hartel of Germany.

The third British woman, lightweight Tasha Jonas, faces the world’s leading female boxer in Katie Taylor of Ireland after a cultured 21-13 victory against the threat of American Quanitta Underwood in the first ever session of women’s Olympic boxing.

Jonas boxed beautifully, crafting the decision from the southpaw stance. Big old Robert Wells, 55, a man of the old school who won a superheavyweight bronze medal in Los Angeles in 1984, and is working here as a venue supervisor for LOCOG, said afterwards: “Cor, she was beautiful. I never believed in women’s boxing. Still don’t think women could box. But her footwork was fantastic. Those girls can box.”

Pretty much sums up the day from this venue. Wonderful. Historic. And finally, with a stack of British medals in sight.